Fuel Economy

Last week, I went on a 450 km trip and my 2009 VUE XR-6 averaged 7.7 L/100 km. Converted, it gives 36.7 MPG imperial, or 30.6 MPG US gallons. I was driving at 101 km/h (60 MPH) on the cruise control. We were 2 adults and a child, fully loaded with luggages. For a 3.6L V6, I think it is very, very acceptable! I like this machine!

Sam Abuelsamid from AutoBlog: The 2-Mode Hybrid version of the Saturn Vue had initially been scheduled to go into production in November of 2008. However, as General Motors careened toward financial apocalypse, many product programs were put on hold or canceled altogether. Among those was the new hybrid Vue, which was delayed at least twice before finally being terminated altogether in late spring.

From AuraDrvr89: Once again this summer, my family and I traveled to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. It's a spectacular amusement park, for those who are not familiar. Last year I averaged about 33mpg on the way there, and wanted to see if I could beat it this year. We drove from my home in western New York straight into Sandusky. It's a fairly straight run.

With Cash-for-Clunkers legislation headed for signing by President Obama, the team of experts at Autobytel has compiled an online buying guide that identifies the top brands and best model bets for a new, more efficient automobile that qualifies for the proposed Cash-for-Clunkers voucher. With gas prices surging upwards, the guide also serves as a timely road map of those vehicles best equipped to save money at the pump.

Jorge Chapa from Inhabitat.com: Ohio State University recently took top honors in the 2009 EcoCAR Competition, which challenged students across the US and Canada to redesign a standard Saturn Vue into an ultra-efficient vehicle. Their winning EcoCAR utilizes a lithium battery and an ethanol-fueled engine to achieve an incredible 300% increase in fuel efficiency over its standard model counterpart! The vehicle took plenty of man hours, good design and well-honed math skills, but the end result proves that future-forward vehicles can be built with the technology of today.

Warren Brown from the Washington Post: Small, independent car companies such as California-based Tesla Motors and AFS Trinity Power of Bellevue, Washington, have come up with electric models that give their gasoline counterparts a very fast run for the money. After driving an "extreme hybrid" AFS Trinity version of a Saturn Vue SUV, which beats all GM Saturn Vue models in fuel-economy and straight-line acceleration, here's suggesting that the Penske Group, Saturn's new owner, get in contact with AFS Trinity.

Students from Ohio State University earned top honors at the 2009 finals of the EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge competition in Toronto, Canada for their design of a Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV). OSU took first place out of 17 universities in the U.S. and Canada that competed in the first major milestone of this three-year competition which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors, and many others including the Government of Canada.

Jessica L. Anderson from Kiplinger: After gas prices dropped in late 2008, hybrid sales collapsed, falling 43% in December compared with the previous year. That highlights the reality that when fuel prices are low, savings at the pump rarely make up for the $3,000-plus hybrid premium.

This year's DC auto show was different than in the past. Instead of displaying year-old concept cars and last year's pre-production vehicles, many automakers diverted their newest cars – which were en route to Chicago for their big show later this week – to what had been a second-tier auto show in years past.

Last week Saturn General Manager, Jill Lajdziak, posted an update on the state of Saturn on her blog at ImSaturn. General Motors, Saturn, and Saturn's retailers are looking at ways to overhaul the Saturn business model into one that is profitable for GM.